plate no. 8393

Lion's Mouth

oilImpressionismstill lifeflowersvasestill lifetableredfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for floral subjects, and capturing the essence of light and shadow in a simplified manner. It also encourages observation of form through color and value rather than precise outlines.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the vase and flower arrangement.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of warm neutral colors.
step 03
Establish the main areas of red in the flowers, using varying shades.
step 04
Add the green foliage, focusing on shapes and values rather than details.
step 05
Paint the vase, paying attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Introduce white highlights to the flowers to give them dimension.
step 07
Add darker accents to define the shapes and create contrast.
step 08
Refine the edges and details, but maintain a loose and painterly style.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of red by combining cadmium red with alizarin crimson and white. Create muted greens by mixing sap green with burnt umber and yellow ochre. Achieve the background color by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·color temperature variation
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating flat, uniform colors instead of varying the shades and tones.
→Making the composition too symmetrical or rigid.
→Not paying attention to the negative space around the flowers and vase.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 4, 6, 8)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 6)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·apron

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for better paint adhesion and brushwork. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified and harmonious color scheme.

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